Find out about tax benefits on the next page.

When You Work,

You May Qualify for Valuable Tax Benefits.

Many working families are eligible for tax benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Tuition Tax Credits, the Child Tax Credit and the Dependent Care Credit. These credits could be worth thousands of dollars when you file your income tax return. For the 2009 tax year, you may also be eligible for the STATE?EITC which could reduce the amount of state income tax you owe by up to $283.

EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (FEDERAL)

If your family earnings were less than $43,950 (single head of household) or $49,078 (married filing jointly) and you were raising three or more children in your home, you could get up to $5,751.

If your family earnings were less than $40,950 (single or head of household) or $46,000 (married filing jointly)?and you were raising two children in your home, you could get up to $5,112.

If your family earnings were less than $36,000 (single head of household) or $41,200 (married filing jointly) and you were raising one child in your home, you could get up to $3,094

If your family earnings were less than $13,650 (single) or $18,700 (married filing jointly) and you had no children and you are between the ages of 25 and 64 you could get up to $464.

You can get information on this credit at any DHS office.

There are two ways you can take the Earned Income Tax Credit. You can choose to get the total credit in one refund payment once a year. Or, you can choose to get part of the credit in advance in your paychecks throughout the year and then get a smaller refund check at the end of the year. The Work Pays chart on the previous page shows how much extra money someone could get each month with the Advanced Earned Income Tax Credit.

You can receive tax credits even if you do not owe any federal income tax. If you do owe federal taxes, the tax credit reduces the amount you owe. If your tax credit is larger than the taxes owed, the IRS will send you a refund. Receipt of the Federal or State EITC will not affect your eligibility for DHS?benefits.

HELP WITH YOUR TAXES

You can get help with claiming the Federal EITC, the STATE EITC, and other important tax benefits.

DHS funds the Tax Counseling and Tax Assistance Programs, which offer free, confidential tax counseling and preparation services for families with income under $50,000 and individuals with income under $25,000. These programs operate from late January through April 15 in Chicago, Harvey, Aurora, Villa Park, Joliet, Waukegan, Elgin, Springfield, East St. Louis, Peoria, Rockford, Decatur, Champaign, Marion, Alton, Bloomington, Normal, Maywood, Plainfield, Crystal Lake, Rock Island, and Cicero.

For more information, call 1-312-630-0273 (Cook County)

1-312-409-1555 (Cook, Du Page, Kane and Lake Counties)

1-888-827-8511 (outside Cook County)

1-312-701-1326 (TTY)

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance projects operate in many Illinois communities. To get information on locations and times of operation, call the IRS toll free at 1-800-829-1040 (voice) or 1-800-829-4059 (TTY).